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An MP has accused Heathrow Airport of “abusing” its night flight quota by keeping 2,208 flights in a holding pattern before 6am over London last year.

Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, told how this amounts to more than six flights a day circulating above the capital before 6am which creates “unacceptable levels of noise and air pollution”.

Ms Olney, who hit out at the airport for “abusing” the rules, said: “The night flight quota is intended to provide relief to residents under Heathrow’s flight path. Queuing up their flights prior to 6am defeats this purpose and prevents my constituents and those living near to the airport from being able to enjoy an undisturbed night of sleep.

“Disruptions to people’s sleep is linked with a number of health conditions, while communities around Heathrow are four times more likely to suffer from cardiovascular problems due to aircraft noise.”

Heathrow is limited to 5,800 night flights between the hours of 11.30pm to 6am a year to restrict the level of noise pollution suffered by London residents.

But Heathrow has admitted to allowing flights to queue in the air between 5.30am and 6am.

The Liberal Democrats said these flights do not count towards Heathrow’s night flight quota but are just as impactful to London residents’ abilities to have an undisrupted night of sleep.

Ms Olney added: “The introduction of a third runway could increase the amount of planes arriving and departing Heathrow by a third, which will have serious environmental consequences, as well as adding to the noise pollution that residents suffer with every day.’

“Heathrow must take the health and social concerns of my constituents seriously, and this starts with adhering to the principle of their night time quota.”

Heathrow said that sometimes planes scheduled to land after 6am will arrive in the UK shortly before depending on wind conditions and the strength of the jet stream.

These aircraft are directed into a holding pattern.

Aircraft circle in these stacks separated by a height of 1,000ft and the lowest level of the holding stacks is 7,000ft.

This ensures that planes scheduled to land after 6am do not fly low over communities before they are allowed to, the airport said.